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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you just knew the Donut Cart near Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park was going to get in on the action. They’ve created two stylish donuts that are as delicious (and sweet!) as they are pretty. The Valentine Donut starts out simple enough with a basic yeast donut. But then… things get pink real fast.

Valentine Donut

Vanilla glaze is speckled with bright pink sugar sprinkles. Then there’s a swirl of frosting (much more on that in a sec!), and a white and pink heart-sharped marshmallow. [Read more…]

It was quite a loss — to me and many, many others — when River Belle Terrace stopped serving breakfast in early 2016. The removal took place when the spot transitioned from Counter Service to Table Service and started to serve lunch and dinner only. But now, breakfast is back!

So that means you can start your day with views like this! [Read more…]

February of 2016 will bring BIG changes to two beloved Disneyland dining locations.

First, Frontierland’s River Belle Terrace will change from its current status as a Counter Service location to a Table Service option serving lunch and dinner only as of February 10, 2016.

River Belle Terrace

The menu will focus on “Southern barbecue staples” such as ribs and chicken as well as sustainable seafood offerings. Of course, this change means that River Belle Terrace will soon be accepting reservations (the date guests will be able to start booking has yet to be announced). [Read more…]

Editor’s Note: River Belle Terrace no longer serves breakfast as of February 10, 2016, and is now a table service restaurant for lunch and dinner.

On a recent trip to Disneyland, we had many things to cross off of our list. But when it came time for breakfast in the Park one morning, only one stop would do — River Belle Terrace!

River Belle Terrace in Disneyland’s Frontierland

You’ll find this counter service spot in Frontierland along the Rivers of America. And that last bit of information is important. After all, you may come to River Belle Terrace because you’re hungry, but it has more to recommend it than the menu. Here we go!

Atmosphere

Located in New Orleans Square, the aesthetic of River Belle Terrace is Antebellum all the way. The entrance is fashioned to look like a grand Southern mansion on a small scale.

Entrance

Step inside, and you see gracious touches that echo that feeling. Arched windows allow plenty of light into the seating area, so even if you choose to dine inside, you’ll still have the sense of being in an outdoor garden setting.

Indoor Seating and Condiment Area

Ornate ceiling medallions and flowering vines on the chandeliers fancy up the spot a bit.

And keep this in mind: it may not look all that interesting or distinguished, but River Belle Terrace deserves a pause in your Disney Day. This restaurant has been serving since Disneyland opened in 1955! As the story goes, you could find Mr. Disney enjoying breakfast here often on serene Sunday mornings.

Light Fixture and Ceiling Detail

While the indoor seating is pleasant, it’s the terrace that is truly beloved by so many. Don’t you love the old-fashioned, tasseled umbrellas? They could have updated them and used something modern, but they haven’t. And I’m so glad.

Outdoor Seating

And this — this view. It’s why you come to River Belle Terrace. Eat your breakfast and watch for the Mark Twain Riverboat to paddle by. There’s nothing like this view of the Rivers of America, and if you can enjoy a classic Disneyland breakfast at the same time, it’s a win/win!

View from River Belle Terrace

Speaking of classic Disneyland breakfasts, it seems like the right time to move on to the food. 🙂 Let’s check it out.

Eats

Although River Belle Terrace offers all-day dining, it’s breakfast that we usually enjoy here. In addition to some standard offerings, you’ll find comfort food favorites like Biscuits and Gravy. But there are some really unique options, too. We’ll get to a couple of my favorites in just a moment.

Breakfast Menu — Click to Enlarge

Menus, for breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, offer only a few selections. But the food is hearty and interesting. (Note to self: come back for that River Belle’s Roast Beef and the Messy Mississippi BBQ Sandwich at lunch time.)

Yep — It’s time to head to Radiator Springs in Carburetor County, for a tasty breakfast along Route 66 at Flo’s V-8 Cafe!

Flo’s Sign

Since it opened a couple of years back, Flo’s has quickly garnered a great reputation for delicious table service-style breakfast with counter service convenience and prices. It even makes our list of favorite fast food joints in Disneyland!

Let’s head over for an early morning visit to Cars Land in Disney California Adventure!

Atmosphere

As you quickly see from Flo’s Sign out front, the restaurant is superbly themed. If you’re a fan of the film Cars, you are gonna love this place. With the backdrop of desert rock formations (a.k.a. Radiator Springs Racers!!), Imagineers have outdone themselves here. You truly feel as though you’ve stepped through the silver screen.

Flo’s Sign

And while it’s all stunning in the daytime, you should definitely make a point to visit at night, when the glow from pastel fluorescent lights brings every inch of this place to life!

Flo’s V-8 Cafe at night

Flo’s V-8 in the movie is, of course, the only gas filling station in Radiator Springs…which, of course, equates to food for us humans. 🙂

Outside View

Flo’s roof is famously patterned after an oil filter. Get it?

Oil Filter Roof — Up Close

Directly in front of the restaurant’s entrance, you’ll find one of the outdoor seating areas. These are the filling stations in the film, so naturally, you’ll find gas pumps and stacks of oil cans nearby.

Motor Oil and Gas Pumps on the Patio

As you go into Flo’s, you realize the seating area is enormous. It looks much larger inside than it does outside! It’s more than just Disney magic, though; one of the seating areas is themed both inside and outside as the Ornament Valley Mechanical Clinic.

Ornament Valley Mechanical Clinic

Head inside, and step further back in time. The round-room entrance is crowned by this [Read more…]